16 July 2004 -- The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a media watchdog group, has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to take action to end what the group calls a "climate of lawlessness" that has led to the killings of journalists in Russia.

The U.S.-based group said Paul Klebnikov, the American journalist and editor of the Russian edition of "Forbes" magazine who was gunned down in Moscow one week ago, was the 15th journalist in Russia to have been killed in connection with their work since Putin came to power four years ago.

The CPJ said no one has been brought to justice for any of the slayings.

The group called this a "shameful record" that creates a sense of impunity that endangers journalists and undermines Russian democracy.